Lighting the Torch of Renewal

THERE are meetings, and then there are moments — occasions that do more than occupy the minutes between meals and calendars. They stir something deeper: reflection, commitment, and a yearning to return to the core values of a venerable institution.

On the warm, noonday gathering of July 10, 2025, at the storied halls of the Manila Polo Club, The Rotary Club of Manila — Asia’s first and premier Rotary Club — convened its First Weekly Membership Meeting and Club Assembly for Rotary Year 2025–2026, not merely to launch a new term but to light the beacon of renewal.

With fifty-one Rotarians in attendance — seasoned veterans and fresh faces alike — the assembly bore witness to a rare blend of candor and courage, fraternity and frankness, humor and humility. And more importantly, it signaled a club ready to listen, to change, and to rise once more with a clear, united voice.

A Ceremonial Prelude to Purpose

Promptly at 12:30 PM, Club President Raoul C. Creencia, a man steeped in both the law and Rotary service, called the meeting to order. The air, though laced with July’s humidity, was cooled by the reverent invocation of Director Rami Chahwan, followed by the swelling chords of the Philippine National Anthem and the rousing harmony of the RCM Hymn, rendered by the iconic World-Famous RCM Chorale.

Director Edwin Hernandez solemnly led the Four-Way Test, reminding all that truth, fairness, goodwill, and benefit to all remain the moral compass of Rotarian life. Then, the Club turned festive, offering birthday greetings to PP Archit Bartolome (June 30 celebrant), sung once more with hearty cheer by the Chorale.

A President’s Time for Truth

In his inaugural remarks, President Raoul struck a balance between sober introspection and a stirring call to action. He acknowledged the work that lay ahead — not merely in programs and projects, but in healing divisions, reviving engagement, and restoring integrity. It was a tone-setting declaration for a club that has, for over a century, played a defining role in Philippine civil society.

Prologue, Dialogue, and a Chemistry Lesson on Fellowship

Rotarian Delfin “Del” Lorenzana, former defense chief and Program Chair, shared a pragmatic outline of what to expect this Rotary Year: a star-studded roster of speakers, from government and academia to cinema and diplomacy. But beyond celebrity, he called for conscientious presence — pleading not for perfection, but for participation. “If one cannot attend weekly,” he said, “then at least twice or once a month would be most appreciated.”

Rotarian John Nico “Nico” P. Valencia announced the July 24 fellowship and upcoming fellowships.

Then came Past Director Dean Amading Valdez, who, with wit and wisdom, gave an unexpected but compelling scientific defense of club meetings. Speaking of serotonin, oxytocin, dopamine, and endorphins — the “happy hormones” — he drew laughter and knowing nods as he concluded: “So yes, being here today… is more than worth it. It’s part of what keeps us alive.”

The Survey Speaks: Director Jason Bogovich Presents a Mirror to the Club

Perhaps the most awaited portion of the assembly came when Director Jason M. Bogovich, armed with data and dry wit, delivered the results of the RCM Membership Feedback Survey.

With a 24% response rate — equivalent to 52 out of 215 members — the survey revealed what the Club cherishes and what it must confront:

Deep reverence for RCM’s legacy and brotherhood.

Frustration with internal politics and poor communication.

A desire for quality over quantity in new memberships.

A call for more engaging meetings, hybrid options, and flexible venues.

A need to bridge generational gaps and foster intergenerational mentorship.

Strong consensus for transparency, accountability, and a reinvigorated culture of respect.

“Mutual respect among members,” he emphasized, “isn’t just idealism — it’s the lifeblood of our organization.”

A Forum of Brave Voices

The open forum, moderated by club Secretary Anton Mauricio, became an exercise in open hearts and sharpened minds.

Past Director Art Lopez, in his usual candor, warned against hybrid meetings: “It will be the end of the RCM.”

Past President Hermie Esguerra and Vice-President Ricky Guevara defended make-up attendance and the role of orientation and Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) as pivotal in retaining Rotarian values.

A Call Back to the Rules — and to the Heart

Past Director Beda Fajardo stood up like a sage and reminded all: “We are a rules-based organization.” He spoke of how the president must be president for all, that no business interest should drive membership, and that the club must institutionalize the publication of board resolutions, to inform and empower the general membership. His was a call to legal clarity and organizational dignity.

Rotarian Romy Nones gave an impassioned plea: “The hate must stop. RCM must be a safe haven for all.”

Past President Archit Bartolome urged stricter accountability: “If you accept a nomination, commit. Fail to attend 50% of board meetings? Expulsion.”

Past District Governor Rudy Bediones cut through the noise: “All this talk on attendance? Irrelevant. Let’s focus on what matters.”

But it was Internal Auditor Nick Locsin who delivered perhaps the most soul-stirring soliloquy: questioning past board decisions, lamenting ethical lapses, and imploring members to “vote not for the loudest, but for the good.” Quoting Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, he said, “It’s not enough to be competent. You must be a good person.”

A Presidential Epilogue

As the clock struck 2:00 PM, President Raoul C. Creencia delivered his final remarks, not with thunder, but with truth. He acknowledged every insight, every criticism, every call for reform — and promised to take them forward.

“You say yes three times,” he reminded. “When nominated, when you sign, and when you take your oath. You said yes — three times. And that yes must mean something.”

A Club That Chose to Speak

For all its traditions and trappings, it is not protocol but people who define a Rotary club. On this day, The Rotary Club of Manila chose to speak. It chose to wrestle with its contradictions, to reflect on its past, and to reaffirm its identity not only as Asia’s first, but as Asia’s finest — not by pedigree, but by principle.

Yes, it was only the first club assembly of the year. But in those two hours at the Manila Polo Club, something old was reborn. The fire of fellowship. The courage of truth. The dream of a Rotary that lives not just by its name, but by its noblest ideals.

And with that, the meeting was adjourned — but the work has only begun.